Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2 0 1 0 2 0 11
I n t e r n at io n a l S t u d e n t s O f f i c e S ta f f
W ELC O M E T O T H E I S O
We are very happy to welcome you to Concordia University and to count you
amongst the nearly 4 400 international students already studying here. We
sincerely hope that you will enjoy your time with us and that you will appreciate
the student life on campus. You have chosen a university where students hold
a central place, and where services are geared to help you grow personally and
academically.
We have put together this information booklet to help you prepare for your
arrival in Canada and your arrival in Montreal. Read it carefully— you will
find the answers to many of your questions as well as useful information about
programmes and services offered by the International Students Office.
We look forward to meeting you, so come and visit us as soon as you arrive on
campus. An information package and friendly faces await you.
We wish you a nice trip to Canada and we will see you soon!
The Staff of the International Students Office
1
1 WELCOME TO THE ISO
TA B LE O F C O NTENT S
4 WELCOME TO CONCORDIA!
6 CAMPUS MAPS
8 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE
13 PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
23 FINANCES
23 Transferring Funds to Canada
23 Transferring Funds to Cover Tuition Fees
24 Changing Funds to Canadian Currency
25 Scholarship Students
25 Financial Aid
26 Money for Travel
29 ARRIVAL IN MONTREAL
29 Arrival By Air
29 Arrival Procedures
2
30 Getting to Montreal
TA B LE O F C O NTENT S
30 Arrival By Bus or Train
31 Telephones
31 Temporary Accommodation
42 HOUSING
42 ISO Housing Support Group
42 Temporary Accommodation
43 Map of Metro System
45 Apartments
47 University Residence
48 A FINAL WORD
48 REFERENCES
48 Calendar of Important Dates (web link)
49 Frequently Called Numbers
50 Useful Web Sites
51 Top Ten Tips
52 Appendix I: Sample Budget
3
W ELC O M E T O C O NC O R D I A
History
Although founded in 1974, the university traces its academic roots back to the
early 20th century, with the development of the Jesuit-run Loyola College and
the YMCA-based Sir George Williams University.
Accessibility
Concordia is proud of its tradition of accessibility and concern for the individu-
al. We value inter-disciplinary approaches to learning, and we are dedicated to
offering the best possible scholarship, research and training for the real world.
Programs
Concordia’s more than 180 undergraduate programs are divided into four
Faculties: Arts and Science, Engineering and Computer Science, Fine Arts, and
the John Molson School of Business. Students are enrolled in one of these Facul-
ties, but they may take courses from any of the others as part of their studies.
Many programs also offer a “co-operative” component, whereby students get
work experience while they study. In addition, the School of Graduate Studies
offers more than 70 programs leading to Master’s and doctoral degrees, as well
4
W ELC O M E T O C O NC O R D I A
as a variety of graduate diplomas and certificates for professionals seeking to
upgrade their knowledge and skills.
Students enter the university in September, or in some cases, in January or May.
An undergraduate degree normally takes three or four years to complete, a
Master’s takes from a year-and-a-half to three, and a PhD is at least three years
long. Certificates and diplomas usually take no longer than a year-and-a-half
to complete.
Montreal
Concordia considers the city of Montreal to be an invaluable asset to the
university experience. It has a population of three million, and is one of the
oldest cities in North America and one of the world’s largest French-speaking
cities. While French is the predominant language, there is also a large English-
speaking population. Many ethno-cultural communities also help maintain a
vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Festivals, concerts, films, plays, art shows
and athletic events are plentiful, and there is a 1 000-acre mountain in the heart
of the city, with parks, jogging and bike paths available.
You can also retreat to the nearby Laurentian Mountains or the Eastern Town-
ships. Once there, you can do everything from windsurfing to skiing (alpine, as
well as cross-country), or just explore the beautiful countryside. It’s all within
an hour or two of Montreal.
5
CA M P U S M A P S
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone Number: 514-848-2424 ext. 3515
Fax Number: 514-848-3599
E-mail: iso@alcor.concordia.ca
Internet: http://supportservices.concordia.ca/iso
I n t e r n at io n a l S t u d e n t s O f f i c e
• send an email message to: majordomo@concordia.ca
• your message should read: subscribe iso your email address
• on a separate line write: end
Your email will be sent to a listserve software which only understands certain
commands, such as: subscribe, end; do not write anything else in your email
or it will be returned to you. The command ‘end’ is needed to stop ‘majordomo’
(software) from processing your signature as bad commands.
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
Every year, the ISO selects a number of Concordia students who are willing to
help new international students when they first arrive. They are expected
to provide you with information and guidance on practical matters such as
finding your way around Montreal, registering for courses or renting an apart-
ment. Most of them are international students who have already experienced
what you will be going through and are, therefore, extremely understanding
and helpful.
9
I n t e r n at io n a l S t u d e n t s O f f i c e
I M P O RTANT
You will most likely receive more than one invitation to an Orientation Program
at Concordia. If time permits, try to attend as many as possible. You can never
have too much information when you are a newcomer! An Orientation Session,
however, that you MUST ATTEND is the one organized by the International
Students Office. The ISO Immigration Information Session has been especial-
ly designed for international students who are new to Concordia and Montreal.
ISO
Our program will focus on issues specific to your settling in Montreal (finding
an apartment, opening a bank account, etc.), your adjustment to Concordia
(registration, student ID card, computer account, etc.) and will, of course,
discuss cultural adaptation, an important key to your success as a student.
We have also prepared a comprehensive “Information Package” which will be
distributed at the ISO Immigration Information Session.
Don’t forget to bring your CAQ (1 copy) and Study Permit (1 copy) or your
passport (for students studying for 6 months or less) when you attend the
ISO Immigration Information Session. The University has an obligation to
have, in each international student’s file, a copy of their immigration docu-
ments. This is a regulation of the Québec Ministry of Education, Leisure and
Sports. Failure to comply to this regulation could result in the cancellation
of the student’s registration.
11
ISO Immigration Information Sessions - MANDATORY
I M P O RTANT
For Students Starting Their Academic Program in September 2010 – Fall Term
Choose one session only
No need to sign up - just show up 5-10 minutes before the start of the session.
Sessions are for all regular, exchange and visiting students
2 hour sessions held on days highlighted in gray. Room locations and times vary
therefore we encourage you to pick up a flyer from the ISO. You may also call at
ISO
A u g u s t 2 0 10 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 10
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30
For Students Starting Their Academic Program in January 2011 – Winter Term
Choose one session only
No need to sign up - just show up 5-10 minutes before the start of the session.
Sessions are for all regular, exchange and visiting students
2 hour sessions held on days highlighted in gray. Room locations and times vary
therefore we encourage you to pick up a flyer from the ISO. You may also call at
514-848-2424 ext. 3515 or visit our website at
http://supportservices.concordia.ca/iso/infosessions/immigration.
D e c e m b e r 2 0 10 J a n u a r y 2 0 11
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 1
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
12
1.0 IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
I M P O RTANT
Congratulations on your admission to Concordia University! This is an impor-
tant first step towards your goal of studying in Canada. The second important
step is to determine whether you need to apply for immigration documents and
if so, which ones.
As a general rule, all persons, other than Canadian Citizens and Permanent
Residents, who wish to pursue their studies in the province of Québec, must
I M M I G RAT I O N
obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the “Ministère de
l’Immigration et des Communautés Culturelles” (MICC) (commonly called Im-
migration Quebec) and a Study Permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration
Canada. However, if your course or program of study is six months or less in
duration, you are permitted to study in the province of Québec and in Canada
without having to apply for a CAQ or Study Permit provided you complete such
studies within the authorized period of your stay in Canada (see section 1.1).
People who have Canadian Diplomatic Status are also exempt from getting a
CAQ and Study Permit as long as their Canadian Diplomatic Visa is valid.
14
1.3 IMMIGRATION QUEBEC — FIRST STEP
I M P O RTANT
1.3.1 General Information
Anyone undertaking a course or program of study of more than six months
in the province of Québec must be authorized to do so by Immigration
Quebec. This authorization is given in the form of a Québec Acceptance
Certificate (CAQ) which is issued for the level of study and duration of time,
I M M I G RAT I O N
e.g. three years for a Bachelor or Ph.D. program, two years for a
Master’s program.
You can download the application form or apply online from the following Im-
migration Quebec website:
www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/index.html
Students who require more time to complete their studies while they are in
Canada, must apply for an extension before their CAQ expires. However, you
must be attending school and continue to meet the conditions of Immigration
Quebec. Visit the International Students Office for further information.
Exceptions: Commonwealth fellows and students who have Diplomatic status
or international officials living in Québec are not required to obtain a CAQ.
Further information is available at the Immigration Quebec website
previously mentioned.
While applying for your CAQ, we strongly recommend that you begin the
procedures for obtaining your Study Permit at the visa office of a Canadian
embassy or consulate nearest you. Your application for a Study Permit,
however, will be considered only after the visa office receives confirmation
of your CAQ.
If you already have a CAQ, please make sure that it is valid for the level of
studies you are admitted to. You must apply for a new CAQ each time you
are admitted to a different level of study, for example, when you transfer
from language school to university, from a Bachelor to Master degree, or
from a Master to Doctoral degree. Visit the International Students Office
for further information.
to your application (Step 11). At this point you must download and print the forms
to be completed, signed and sent (Step 12). One of these downloaded forms is a
personalized checklist (to print) which will indicate the list of documents you
must send to Immigration Quebec to complete your application for a CAQ.
NOTE: Students who plan to apply online for their CAQ can skip section
1.3.3 as they will download a PERSONALIZED CHECKLIST of which docu-
I M M I G RAT I O N
I M P O RTANT
between OPTIONS 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
NOTE: If you are applying for a CAQ under OPTION 2, you are ONLY re-
quired to submit the documents mentioned above. You do not need to send
proof of financial capacity despite the fact that questions 19-21 on the CAQ
application form ask for it. Proof of sufficient funds will have to be presented
to Canadian Authorities with your application for a Study Permit.
I M M I G RAT I O N
OPTION 1: (Proof of funds mandatory)
If you (the future student) currently live in Austria, Canada, the United States,
France (including Réunion), Greenland, Hong Kong, Monaco, Mexico, or
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, please refer to OPTION 1, on the enclosed CAQ
application form.
17
1.3.5 Receiving Your Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ):
I M P O RTANT
For students applying for a CAQ under OPTION 1 on the CAQ form, a CAQ will
be sent by mail to the mailing address you provided in question 8 of the CAQ
application form.
For students applying for a CAQ under OPTION 2 confirmation of your CAQ
will be sent by fax to the Canadian Embassy or Consulate where you have ap-
plied for your Study Permit (Please indicate where you will apply for your Study
I M M I G RAT I O N
I M P O RTANT
able at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions.asp) or directly at a
Canadian port of entry. Wherever you apply, you must meet the same require-
ments and present the same documents (see section 1.4.1 below), together with
your Québec Acceptance Certificate, in order to obtain your Study Permit.
People Living Temporarily in the United States
Unlike citizens or permanent residents of the United States, you cannot apply
I M M I G RAT I O N
for your Study Permit at a Canadian port of entry. You will be required to apply
for your Study Permit at a Canadian embassy/consulate which offers Immigra-
tion Services in the United States.
People Living in Canada
If you currently study or live in Canada, you may be eligible to apply for your
Study Permit in Canada (by mail), or you may have to apply for it through a
Canadian consulate or embassy outside of Canada. Contact the International
Students Office and we will tell you what steps you must take.
5. Payment of Processing Fee. The required fee to process your file is $125 in
Canadian dollars. Verify the methods of payment and currencies accepted by
the Visa office responsible for your area.
6. A medical certificate: If you have lived for six consecutive months in a
designated country, you will be required to undergo an immigration medical
examination. The Canadian embassy will provide a medical form along with
a list of designated medical practitioners. Be certain to have the medical
examination as soon as possible; the results often take a long time and can
delay your departure for Canada. 19
You can check the list of designated countries on the Citizenship and
I M P O RTANT
ARRIVING IN CANADA
Please do not forget to present the letter of introduction to the customs officer at
the port of entry where your Study Permit (IMM1442) will be issued.
20
• Registration = Add/Drop courses.
I M P O RTANT
This is the deadline to register or make section changes for courses in the
current term.
• DNE = Did Not Enter
This is the deadline for withdrawal from courses with a full tuition refund;
if you DNE, you will have to request that health insurance fees be removed by
contacting the International Students Office.
I M M I G RAT I O N
1.6 TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA TO ENTER CANADA
In addition to the Study Permit, citizens of a number of countries must have
a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada. If you do require a Temporary
Resident Visa, the visa officer will issue it at the same time as you apply for your
Study Permit.
If you will be studying for a period of six months or less and have opted not to
apply for a Study Permit, you should verify whether you require a Temporary
Resident Visa at a Canadian embassy/consulate closest to you.
For the list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Canada, please
refer to Citizenship and Immigration Canada website:
www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp.
Consider applying for a multiple-entry Visa. This will allow you to leave Canada
and re-enter as many times as you want within the validity period of your Visa.
There is a fee of $150 (CDN dollars) for a multiple-entry Visa or $75 (CDN dol-
lars) for a single-entry Visa.
F I NANCE S
of full-time studies and be in good academic standing. All students wishing to
apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit must attend a mandatory information
session offered by the ISO. Please check our website for the schedule.
http://supportservices.concordia.ca/iso/workingincanada/offcampus
1.13 Spouses/Partners
Spouses/partners of international students are allowed to work, both on or off
campus, providing they can prove that their partner has a valid Study Permit.
However, if the spouse/partner of an international student is also a full-time
student, they must abide by the rules which govern International Students.
Spouses/partners are required to apply for a Work Permit from Citizenship and
Immigration Canada before they begin working and this application is done by
mail in Canada. Contact the International Students Office for further details.
2.0 FINANCES
23
Bank of Montreal
F I NANCE S
F I NANCE S
What are the exchange rates and charges?
In Canada, exchange rates are virtually the same for all banks, but the charges
for changing money vary from one bank to another. Note that some currencies
may not be accepted for exchange. Any currency not quoted on the interna-
tional exchange market will not be bought by Canadian banks.
Graduate students should contact their own departments to verify the possibil-
ity of obtaining a teaching or research assistantship. Students may apply for
the Partial tuition Scholarship for International Students, the deadline date for
application is September 30th for the year in course. The application will be on
the School of Graduate Studies website in August:
graduatestudies.concordia.ca/.
Students may also apply for Concordia Graduate Fellowships and/or Interna-
tional Tuition Fee Remission Awards (exemption from differential tuition fees).
The deadline date for application is December 15th for awards to take effect the
following academic year. The application can be found at:
http://graduatestudies.concordia.ca/currentstudents/funding/fellowshipawardsapplications.
The Graduate Awards Office also maintains a database of awards which can be
accessed at graduatestudies.concordia.ca/awards.
For further information please visit our website at
http://graduatestudies.concordia.ca or email us at awardsgs@alcor.concordia.ca
ACADEMIC YEAR
The academic year is divided into three sessions: Fall, Winter and Summer.
FALL TERM September 7 – December 6, 2010
Exam period: December 8 – December 22, 2010
Holiday period: December 23, 2010 – January 2, 2011
WINTER TERM January 3 – April 9, 2011
Mid-term break: February 21 – February 27, 2011
Exam period: April 11 – April 30, 2011
SUMMER TERM
Summer courses are held in two seperate terms between May and August. The 2011 Summer term
dates have not yet been determined, please visit the following web site at a later date:
http://registrar.concordia.ca/webguide/termdates.html
3.3.1 Clothing
Montreal has a climate which requires winter clothing for several months of the
year. Students coming from tropical and semi-tropical climates should expect
to buy winter clothes here. The weather will still be warm when you arrive in
August or early September, giving you plenty of time to shop for winter cloth-
ing. You should expect to buy a winter coat, a warm hat, a scarf, a pair of lined
gloves, and a pair of snowboots or overboots.
If you are a student coming for the Winter Term, you will have to be dressed for
cold weather when you arrive in Montreal. The weather at this time of the year is
below 0 degrees Celsius and you have to be dressed warmly and wear good boots
27
in order to face winter temperatures. Should you need to shop for winter clothing,
TRA V EL ARRAN G E M ENT S
the best time will be after New Year when stores offer sales on winter clothes.
3.4 LUGGAGE
If you travel by air, verify what the airline regulations are concerning the fol-
lowing points.
• the number of suitcases authorized as registered luggage
• the allowable dimensions of each suitcase
• the number of kilos permitted per suitcase
• the cost per kilo for luggage exceeding the authorized weight
If you have to transfer to another airline, verify also their regulations
concerning luggage.
I M P O RTANT
fees and release the goods to you, however you will be responsible to pay for any
expenses incurred as a result of your shipment.
ARR I V I N G B Y A I R
address mentioned in section 3.5. Your name should be clearly indicated. In
Canada, the first name comes first and the family name follows. Mail will be
placed in the student mailbox slot located in the International Students Office
under the first letter of your family name.
You should discontinue use of this service as soon as you have a permanent
address in Montreal.
29
G ETT I N G T O M O NTREAL
I M P O R TA N T
DO NOT LEAVE the airport or the Canadian border without having
your documents processed. If you forget to do so, you will have to go
to a Canadian border to have your Study Permit issued and signed.
I M P O RTANT
stations are a short distance from Concordia University’s Sir George Williams
campus and from temporary accommodations listed in this Guide (section
10.2). With all your luggage, we suggest that you take a taxi to your hotel rather
than a city bus.
If you arrive at the Central Bus Station you can inquire about the free minibus
service that will bring you to major downtown hotels. For more information
TU I T I O N
please call 514-631-1856.
6.0 TELEPHONES
Local calls made from public telephones cost 50 cents. You can speak for as long
as you like at no extra charge in the local area. 514 and 438 are the area codes
for the Island of Montreal.
If you wish to make a long distance call using a public telephone, you must put
in 50 cents and dial 0 to reach the operator. You can then ask the operator to re-
verse the charges to the person you are calling or you can ask for a long distance
connection and the operator will ask you to put in enough money (in 5, 10, 25
cent or $1.00 coins) for the cost of the call.
8.1 REGISTRATION
TU I T I O N
dents” side tab, click on “Class Schedules” followed by the “Term Dates & Dead-
lines (Standard and Non-Standard)” link. This will direct you to the following
http://registrar.concordia.ca/webguide/termdates.html.
These dates and deadlines are also available in the MyConcordia portal menu
under Registration > Registration Guide.
Students are held financially responsible for 100% of the fees generated by
a registration if they do not withdraw from a course(s) or program by the
DNE deadline. Tuition and all other fees charged for previous academic
terms are NON-REFUNDABLE
IMPORTANT: The Concordia Health Insurance fees for international
students must be cancelled directly with the International Students Office
prior to the deadlines indicated in section 9.4.
Note: Graduate students who have not officially withdrawn from their pro-
gram of study will continue to be billed tuition and other fees each term.
sion agreement with the Québec Government. Please consult the following
Ministry web site:
www.meq.gouv.qc.ca/ens-sup/ens-univ/droits_scolarite-A_pays-organisations.pdf
for a list of eligible countries and international organizations. Inquiries and
application for an exemption should be made directly to the student’s own
Ministry of Education prior to leaving their home country. In some cases,
when the person is in Canada, it may be possible to apply for an exemption at
his or her Embassy or Consulate in Canada or the United States.
• A student who is registered at a university and whose status as a permanent
resident has been officially recognized by Canadian Immigration. Should a
student receive Permanent Resident status during the academic year, he or
she should immediately present the official document to both the Interna-
tional Students Office, Room H 653, and the Office of the Registrar, Room LB
700, to have his or her status changed and to inquire about possible refunds.
For more information on refund policies and deadlines for submission of
documents, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
• Students who work for, or who are dependants of individuals employed by
one of the international non-governmental organizations outlined in Annexe
III of the Politique relative aux droits de scolarité des étudiantes et étudiants
étrangers par les universités du Québec available at
www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/ens-sup/ens-univ/Politique_etudiant_etranger-2008.pdf
• Under certain conditions, students who have obtained Convention Refugee
status may be eligible for an exemption from differential fees for interna-
tional students. Depending on the documentation submitted, students may
be eligible to pay either the Québec tuition rate or the Canadian non-Québec
rate. For information on deadlines for submission of documentation and on
the specific documents required, please contact the Office of the Registrar. To
pay the Quebec tuition rate, students must submit a CSQ and a document de-
livered by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada or Citizenship and
Immigration Canada formally recognizing their status of refugee, “protected
person” or “person to be protected”.
• Newly admitted International Students who register in a Bachelors, Masters
or PhD program will be exempted from the differential fees for approved
courses in French Language, Literature and Québec Studies only. They are
required to pay the differential fees for all other courses in their program.
International students who register for French courses as part of a certificate,
independent, visiting, qualifying, or diploma program will be required to pay
the differential fee for these French courses, regardless of when the student
first registered at Concordia.
Further information is available at: http://frenchprogramexemption.concordia.ca
• A Master or Doctoral student who has been granted a fee remission from
Concordia University (Section 2.5). Information and applications are avail-
able at the Graduate Awards Office, Tel.: 514-848–2424, ext.3801.
34
8.4 PERMANENT CODE
I M P O RTANT
The Québec Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sports requires all Québec
universities to have a permanent code for each registered student for whom the
University receives funding. Students who have never studied in Québec do
not have a permanent code and must therefore apply for one. Please visit your
Portal at www.myconcordia.ca and fill in the Permanent Code Data form under
the heading ‘Student Services’. Upon arrival on campus, you will be required to
H EALT H I N S URANCE
submit your supporting documents to the International Students Office.
Please note that a surcharge of $319 per credit (amount subject to change)
will be billed to all students at the time of registration. This surcharge will be
removed provided that the required documents are received before the follow-
ing deadlines:
FALL ADMISSION WINTER ADMISSSION SUMMER ADMISSION
December 15 April 15 August 15
Please note that the deadlines indicated are subject to change depending on
directives of the Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sports.
For further information consult the following website at:
http://permanentcode.concordia.ca
August 14 of the following year. The annual fee is negotiated on a yearly basis
and thus is unavailable at this time. Please contact the International Students
Office for further information. The insurance company is Sun Life. Students
who arrive in January will pay a pro-rated premium for the 8-month period
ending August 14. Student insurance commences on the 15th of August or
on the date the student arrives in Canada, whichever is later.
H EALT H I N S URANCE
A u g u s t 2 0 10 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 10
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30
36
For Students Starting Their Academic Program in January 2011 – Winter Term
I M P O RTANT
Choose one session only
No need to sign up - just show up 5-10 minutes before the start of the session.
30-minute sessions held at 3 p.m. on days highlighted in gray. Room locations
vary therefore we encourage you to pick up a flyer from the ISO. You may also
call at 514-848-2424 ext. 3515 or visit our web site at
http://supportservices.concordia.ca/iso/infosessions/healthinsurance.
H EALT H I N S URANCE
D e c e m b e r 2 0 10 J a n u a r y 2 0 10
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 1
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
37
A. Students Who Have a Valid Québec Medicare Card (Carte d’Assurance–
I M P O RTANT
Maladie du Québec)
Students who possess a valid Québec Medicare Card are permitted to opt-out of
the Concordia Health Insurance Plan for International Students.
B. Students from Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Portu-
gal, and Sweden
As a result of intergovernmental agreements, full-time students who are citi-
H EALT H I N S URANCE
zens of the above-named countries who were covered under their government’s
medical system before their arrival in Québec, will be eligible for the Québec
medical benefits (called Québec Medicare Card or Carte d’Assurance-Maladie
du Québec) at no cost.
Information about how to apply for the Québec Medicare Card will be avail-
able at the International Students Office. To obtain a Québec Medicare Card,
students must present proof of registration in their government’s medical
system* and will have to show proof of full-time status at Concordia University.
Full-time status is defined as 12 credits or more per term for undergraduate
students.
*Exemptions For Students from:
Denmark: Sygesikringsbevis
Finland: Form SF-Q4, Suomen Ja Québecin Valinen
Sosiaaliturvasopimusjarjestely
France: Formulaire SE-401-Q-102: “Attestation d’appartenance au régime
français préalablement au départ pour le Québec”, ou formulaire
SE-401-Q-106: “Attestation d’affiliation au régime de sécurité sociale du pays
d’origine – échanges universitaires” (qui couvre l’année scolaire du 1er septem-
bre au 15 mai), seulement pour les personnes de nationalité française.
Luxembourg: Form Lux-Que4
Norway: Certificate issued by Den Norske Folketrygden
Portugal: Certificado de Direitos (Por/Que 4)
Sweden: Certificate of Sickness Ins urance, the Intyg om
sjukforsakrinstillhorighet I Sverige
C. Scholarship Students
Scholarships from a number of sponsoring organizations (e.g. CIDA, ICCS,
CBIE, WUSC, etc.) include health insurance coverage. To opt-out of the Concor-
dia Health Insurance Plan for International Students, students must ensure that
their scholarship letter clearly mentions the health insurance coverage as well
as the duration of the policy. Students will also be required to submit a
Health Insurance Waiver form to be completed by both the student and the
sponsoring organization.
D. Refugee Claimants and Convention Refugees
Refugee Claimants and Convention Refugees are eligible to opt-out of the Con-
cordia Health Insurance Plan for International Students if they can show proof
of medical coverage by the Canadian or Québec Government.
38
9.4 Procedures for Opting-out of the Concordia Health Insurance
I M P O RTANT
Plan for International Students
If you are a student who falls within the exemption categories previously men-
tioned in section 9.3, you may opt-out of the Concordia Health Insurance Plan for
International Students and be eligible for a refund/credit. To qualify for such a re-
fund/credit, your health insurance coverage must be valid while you are a student
at Concordia. Should it expire during the academic year, you will be responsible
H EALT H I N S URANCE
for extending your health insurance coverage and providing proof of it to the
International Students Office; otherwise, you will be automatically registered in
the Health Insurance Plan for International Students and charged insurance fees.
To opt-out of the Concordia Health Insurance Plan for International Students,
you must present proof of your health insurance coverage to the International
Students Office, Hall Building, Room 653, before the prescribed deadlines that
follow. Applications submitted after the deadlines and approved by ISO will be
charged an administrative fee. Since health insurance fees for international
students are charged on a yearly basis, when you register for courses or CIP
(Continuing in Program), you will have to repeat the process each year if
you want to opt out of the health insurance plan.
Please note that students who have submitted a claim to the insurance com-
pany can NOT be considered for an exemption/cancellation/adjustment.
Please note that the Concordia Health Insurance Plan for international students
and the Québec Medicare card do not include a dental plan. Additional health
and dental coverage for international students over and above the compulsory
Sun Life plan is also available through the CSU (Concordia Student Union), and
the GSA (Graduate Students Association). However, graduate students enrolled
in specialized programs as well as all Exchange students are not eligible to
enroll in this Dental Plan since these students are not paying CSU/GSA associa-
tion fees.
If you are interested in having this additional health and dental insurance you
must self-enrol at the start of your academic programme before the following
deadlines:
Opt-in period for students who start their academic programme in the Fall:
Between the first day of Fall courses to the Fall DNE Deadline.
(approx. 2 weeks)
Opt-in period for students who start their academic programme in the Winter:
Between the first day of Winter courses to the Winter DNE Deadline.
(approx. 2 weeks)
If you forget to opt-in before the deadlines indicated above you will have to wait
until the next academic year begins, i.e. Fall term. Eligibility and details about
specific coverage with these plans is available from the Quebec Student Health
Alliance at:
Internet: www.ihaveaplan.ca
Telephone: 514-789-8790
Toll free: 1-866-795-4437
Please note that this optional plan is negotiated on an annual basis, and there-
fore may not be available. For more information please contact your respective
student union or association.
I M P O RTANT
eye examination and lenses, vaccinations, drugs and medicines. ( N.B. Les
médicaments sont gratuits pour les étudiants de la France.)
Students who have a Québec Medicare Card should consider enrolling into
the ASEQ Health Insurance Plan to supplement the Québec Medicare Card
coverage, thereby filling the gaps left by the provincial health plan. Students
may enroll in the ASEQ Health Plan within seven days of receiving the Québec
H EALT H I N S URANCE
Medicare Card. Further information is available at the following website:
www.ihaveaplan.ca. Telephone: 514-789-8790 or 1-866-795-4437 (USA and
Canada only).
Please note: Graduate students enrolled in specialized programs as well as
Exchange Students and all other students who are not paying student associa-
tion (CSU/GSA) fees cannot enroll in the ASEQ Health Plan.
41
Health Services Locations and Hours of Operation
HOUSING
10.0 HOUSING
Finding a place to live is a source of great anxiety for new international stu-
dents, yet, within five to seven days, most students are successful in finding, not
only an apartment, but a roommate as well. So rest assured that you will be able
to find something to suit your taste and your budget. You may not be able to
find an apartment in downtown Montreal because the vacancy rate is less than
1%, but you will surely find an apartment along a metro/subway line or bus line.
Montreal has a reliable and efficient transportation system.
Plan to arrive at least two weeks before classes begin in order to give yourself
time to look around, choose a suitable place, buy furniture and get settled. Ar-
riving a few weeks early can make all the difference between feeling in control
or being in a state of panic. Information about apartment-hunting will be pro-
vided during the ISO Immigration Orientation, and you will have a chance at
the end of the sessions to meet other students who are also looking for housing
or roommates. Drop-in to the ISO Housing Support Group for more
hands-on information.
HOUSING
advance, you will have great difficulty finding a place to stay.
The vacancy rate in Montreal has been steadily dropping, and apartment hunt-
ing has become more difficult, so arrive early and give yourself enough time for
a sensible search.
The CSU Off-Campus Housing and Job Bank offers a list of cheap hostels, some
of which are specially priced for Concordia students.To obtain this list and
further information please download the pdf file from their website:
hojo.csu.qc.ca. Then click on the “Resources” link in the Hojo Menu (on the left).
You will then see a link for Temporary Accomodation. Hostels are an inexpen-
sive way to find temporary accommodations.
© STM stm.info
43
Following is a list of reasonably priced temporary accommodations
HOUSING
Hotel St-Denis
1254 St-Denis
Tel: 514-849-4526 / 1-800-291-5927
Fax: 514-849-4529
E-mail: stay@hotel-st-denis.com
Web site: www.hotel-st-denis.com
Metro: Berri-UQAM
44
BED AND BREAKFAST NETWORK B & B Centre-Ville-Downtown Network
HOUSING
3977 Laval Avenue
Accommodation in private homes Tel: 514-287-9635 or 1-800-363-9635
in various areas of Montreal. (Ask if Fax: 514-287-1007
there is a student discount, especially E-mail: b_b@martha-pearson.com
Web site: http://martha-pearson.com
if you stay longer than one night.) Metro: Sherbrooke
Downtown Bed & Breakfast
Montreal Oasis in Downtown
3458 Avenue Laval
3000 Breslay Road
Tel: 514-289-9749 / 1-800-267-5180
Tel: 514-935-2312
Fax: 514-287-7386
Fax: 514-935-3154
E-mail: infobb@bbmontreal.ca
Web site: www.bedandbreakfast.com/
Web site: www.bbmontreal.ca
quebec-montreal-a-montreal-oasis.html
Metro: Sherbrooke
Metro: Atwater
Welcome/Bienvenue Bed & Breakfast
3950 Avenue Laval
Tel: 514-844-5897 / 1-800-227-5897 OTHER SOURCES:
Fax: 514-844-5894
Tourisme Montreal
E-mail: info@bienvenuebb.com
Web site: www.tourisme-montreal.org
Web site: www.bienvenuebb.com
Tel: 514-873-2015
Metro: Sherbrooke
Tourisme Québec
Web site : www.bonjourquebec.com
Tel: 514-873-2015
10.3 APARTMENTS
The majority of our international students live in apartments. Some prefer
to stay alone while others choose to share their apartment with a roommate.
Rental costs in Montreal tend to be slightly more affordable compared to other
major cities in Canada. It will take a few days before you find an apartment that
you like, but you will surely find one. Our best advice is to take your time and
visit a number of places before making a decision and signing a lease. You
want to make sure that the apartment you choose will meet your needs and suit
your budget.
45
CSU Off-Campus Housing & Job Bank (HOJO)
HOUSING
HOUSING
apartment usually consists of 2 rooms—1 bedroom and 1 living room which
includes a kitchenette. The half room is usually the bathroom.
ming is offered throughout the school year and commence during Orientation.
Events planned each year include coffee houses, city tours and outings, as well
as special holiday socials. The staff at the Hingston Hall Residence, Jesuit Resi-
dence and Grey Nuns Residence strives to create an environment that is both
academically and socially enriching.
Information and the application for on-campus housing can be found at
http://residence.concordia.ca. Students need to note that applying for residence
is a separate application from the University. Applications for residence open in
the month of March for Fall entry.
48
FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS
Immigration
Transportation
Telecommunication
Operator: 0
Emergencies
49
CONCORDIA LINKS EXTERNAL LINKS
U S EFUL W E B S I TE S
50
Top Ten Tips
T O P TEN T I P S
1. Familiarize yourself as much as you can with Canada, Québec, Montréal,
and Concordia; most of you will be living here for several months to several
years during the course of your studies. A host of information is available
about Canada on the Web, including the Government of Canada’s main site
www.gc.ca; Québec at www.bonjourquebec.com; Montréal at
www.tourisme-montreal.org; Concordia University at www.concordia.ca.
2. Plan to arrive in Canada at least two to four weeks before classes begin.
The extra time will enable you to find accommodations, pick-up your health
insurance card at the International Students Office (you must be registered),
open a bank account, and get used to a place you will call home for a while.
3. Before you leave for Canada, it is absolutely crucial that you make the neces-
sary reservations at a hotel, bed and breakfast, youth hostel or other venue
where you can be accommodated. Refer to the Housing section for a list of
temporary accommodations.
4. It is wise to have small denominations of Canadian (or American)
dollars in cash. You should consider buying traveller’s cheques for larger
sums of money.
5. Keep your cash, traveller’s cheques, immigration and travel documents,
and letter of admission, on your person. You will need to have access to
them when you arrive at the Canada port of entry. Remember you will need
to pay $125 processing fee to obtain your Study Permit.
6. Make a photocopy of your passport identification page. This will facilitate
replacement if your passport is lost or stolen.
7. Don’t leave luggage and other personal belongings unattended in
public areas.
8. Upon arrival, notify by phone or register in person with your country’s
consular representative in Canada. A list of embassies and consulates can
be found at: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/protocol/menu-en.asp
9. Attend a ISO Immigration Information Session, refer to the Orientation
section for a list of dates and times. Attend as many Orientations as possible
such as: Discover Concordia; CSU Orientation, GSA Orientation, Faculty
Orientation, Department of Study Orientation.
10.Sign-up for the ISO INFORMATION BULLETIN. It’s Free!
Sign-up at http://supportservices.concordia.ca/iso/isopublications/isobulletin/
51
NOTE: Personal and living expenses listed are estimates and subject to personal needs.
A P P EN D I X 1 S A M P LE B U D G ET
The figures are in Canadian funds and are estimates for 12 months
ARRIVAL EXPENSES
Arrival expenses $750
(transportation, temporary accommodations, restaurants)
Installation expenses $700
(equipment for apartment, telephone installation, etc.)
Winter Clothing $700
(boots, coat, gloves, scarves, sweaters, etc.)
PER MONTH:
LIVING EXPENSES
Off-Campus Room and Food $1 002
Transportation $82.50
Telephone $50
Miscellaneous $162
(leisure items, toiletries, etc.)
52
I n t e r n at io n a l S t u d e n t s O f f i c e
Published by the International Students Office
Concordia University
1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd.West
Montreal, Quebec
H3G 1M8
Telephone: 514-848-2424, ext.3515
Fax: 514-848-3599
Email: iso@alcor.concordia.ca
Website: http://supportservices.concordia.ca/iso
January 2010
53
The International Students Office is a member of
Advocacy and Support Services of Enrolment and Student Services.
iso@alcor.concordia.ca
http://supportservices.concordia.ca/iso
January 2010
w w w.concordia .c a